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7 s. A. NEIDICH VISCUSE TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 10, 1926 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG].

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l 1 1 1 IL F b. 8 1927. 1 e -s. A.-NEIDICH I VISCOSE TREATING APPARATUS Filed May 1O,v 1926 Sheets-Sheet I3 Patented Feb. 8, 1927.

UNITED STATES SAMUEL A. NEIDICI'I, OF EDGEWATER PARK, NEW JERSEY.

VISCOSE-TREATING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 10, 1926. Serial No. 107,919.

The operations of forming viscose products from pulp ordinarily occupy two weelrs time. Although most of that time must necessarily elapse to eliect the chemical changes incident to the several steps in the process; the conversion of viscose to cellulose hydrate ordinarily requires from six to seven hours time in a factory where such operations are effected by alternately char- Lying and discharging tanks, etc. However, two hours is ample time to effect such n-ecipitation and conversion, if the time ordinarily wasted in the charging and dis charging operations may be saved.

'lherei'ore, the purpose and effect 01": this invention is to provide means for effecting what is a substantially continuous processof l'reatn'ient oi? viscose; and including means for subjecting the viscose to the action or (1) dilute sulphuric acid, (2) boiling sodi um phosphate, water, (4) aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite, and dilute peroxide of hydrogen.

The form or my invention hereinafter described includes a stationary axial standard, supporting a rotary carriage, arranged to rupport a circular series of trays for rotation in coaxial relation with said standard; a circular series of relatively stationary tanks disposed beneath said series of trays; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tanks into respective superimposed l'rays; means arranged to intermittently discharge liquid from said trays back into said tanks; and means arranged to cl'lect such charging and discharging movements of the liquids in sequence with intermittent rotary movement of the series of trays. Said apparatus includes means "for causing the liquids to surge in and out oil the trays which contain viscose filaments to be treated; such surging operations being several times repeated with each liquid and such treatments being elfected in sequence with intermittent rotary movements of said carriage which thus shift the viscose under treatment from the place of the initial treatment to the place of the final treatment.

My invention includes the various novel Features oi construction and arrangement hereinafter more definitely specified.

In said drawings; Fig. I is a plan view of an apparatus conveniently embodying my invention.

F ll is a dianictrical vertical sectional view of said apparatus, taken on the line H, H in Fig. I.

Fig. 111 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. II, but on a larger scale, showing the upper supports for the rotary carriage.

Fig. IV is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. 11, but on a larger scale, showing the lower supports for said carriage.

V is a fragmentary vertical sectional view, similar to Fig. II, but on a larger scale, showing the means for operating the tank valves,

Fig. VI is a fragmentary plan view, showing at the left thereof, the upper carriage support and at the right thereof, the lower carriage support.

In said figures; the stationary axial standard 1 is supported in vertical position, by any suitable means, for instance, by the base plate 2 and the cap plate 3 which are screw threaded thereon and which may be respectively rigidly connected with the floor 4 and ceiling 5 of any suitable inclosure for the appa atus. Said axial standard 1 supports the rotary carriage which includes the hub tube 7, in coaxial relation with said standard, having the ball bearing 8 at the bottom thereoi and the ball bearing 9 at the top thereof. Said ball bearing 8 is supported by the base plate 2, and said bearing 9 is supported by said standard 1. Said hub tube 7 has the upper annular carriage support 11 which is conveniently screw threaded thereon and has the circular series of seats 12 for tension rods 13. and screw threaded bolt holes 14 for bolts 15 which extend through the eyes 16 in said rods and are prevented from accidental unscrewing by the spring washers l1. Said hub tube 7 is also provided with the lower annular carsupport 19 which is conveniently 'lormcd oi two sections split at 20 and connected and clamped upon said tube by bolts 21 extending through flanges 22 and provided with nuts 23. Said support 19 has a circular series of seats 25 for the strut rods 26 and a circular series of screw threaded bolt holes 28 for bolts 29 which extend through the eyes 30 in said rods 26 and are prevented from accidental unscrewing by the spring washers 31.

Said tension rods 13 and strut rods 26 sup port, in substantially rigid relation with said hub tube 7, the annular tray frame which conveniently includes two annular series oi timbers and Said timbers 33 are rigidly connected by junction plates to which they are secured by bolts '37. Said plates 36 have lugs 36 with which said tension rods 13 are connected by bolts and nuts 40. Said timbers 3d are rigidly connected by junction plates l2 to which they are secured by bolts 4-3. Said plates 4-2 have lugs 4:4: with which said strut rods 26 are connected by bolts and nuts i -6. Said two annular series of timbers and 3a are also rigidly connected with each other, by the radially extending timbers ll, The outer ends 01 said timbers "I? are rigidly connected with said junction plates by bolts having nuts 49, and the inner ends of said timbers t? are rigidly connected with said junction plates 42 by bolts having nuts 51.

Said timbers 33 are provided with a circular series of seats 52 for respective boxes 53 which are designed to hold, in radially disposed position, the removable perforated trays 5% in which the 'iseose may be subjected to the action of liquids alternat ly received in and discharged from said boxes. Said boxes have cleats 55 hearing against the timbers 34': to removably retain said boxes in the position shown; the inner edge of said tray i'rame being lower than the outer edge, so that any liquid in s boxes gravitates toward said axial standard 1 and may be discharged through the respective ports in the valve casings 57 which extend transversely upon the bottoms of said boxes and inclose rotary cylindrical box valves 59 whereby said ports may be controlled. Said valves 59 are respectively provided with operating levers 60 which may be raised to close said ports 56 and lowered to open said ports, by engagen'ientwith the 'alve operating spider 61, which has links 62 pivoted thereon at 63 and pivotally connected with said levers 60- Said spider 61 is mounted in coaxial relation withsaid tube 7 upon which it may he axially reciprocate but prevented from turning by the hey '1 lind it convenient to eii'ect such t al movement of said spider frame by prov lg it with the penden tubular hub 66 having the internal screw thread 6? titted for engagement with the screw thread 68 on the screw sleeve 69. Said sleeve 69 is mounted to rotate in coaxial relation with said standard 1 and hub tube 7, upon the ball bearing: '70 at its lower end, and provided with the worm gear T2 for eng. gemeut with the worm 73 on the shaft Tl, whereby it may be turned. Axial movement of said sleeve 69 being thus prevented, it is to be understood that turning movement of said sleeve 69 to unscrew its thread 68 from the thread 67 on said hub 66 hits the latter, and reverse rotation of said sleeve lowers said hub 66 and spider frame 61. The ex tent oi such axial movement of said spider frame is the aggregate of the axial length of the two threads 67 and 68 respectively upon said hub 66 and sleeve '69. The aforesaid unscrewing movement of said sleeve 69, of course, ceases to raise said spider frame 61, when the screw thread 67 passes upwardly oil the screw thread 68; continued rotation of said sleeve in the same direction, thereafter, being merely idle. However, upon reverse rotation of said sleeve, the weight of said frame 61 causes it to gravitate to ire-engage its thread 67 with the thread 68, and continued rotation of said sleeve in that direction lowers the frame 61 until its screw thread 67 passes downwardly oil the screw thread 68 on said sleeve 69'; so that continued rotation of said sleeve in that direction thereafter is idle. However, means must be provided to press said frame 61 axially upward to re-e'ngage its screw thread 67 with the screw thread 68 on said sleeve 69 when the direction of rotation of said sleeve is changed to lift said frame 61, and I therefore iind itconvenient to provide the thrust ring 76, in coaxial relation with said sleeve '69, with an annular series of springs 77 which are located in spaced relation by engagement with the respective pendent lugs 7 8 on said ring, and are supported at their lOWGl ends by the gear 72 in which they are seated. It is to be understood that the efiect of said spring pressed thrust ring is to thrust said spider frame upwardly to engage its thread 67 with the thread 68 on said sleeve 69, whenever the latter is rotated in such direction as to permit oi such engagement.

The arrangement above described is such that said spider trame 61 may be raised and lowered at any desired intervals, by correspondingly reversing the rotation of said worm shaft 74:, to thus open and close said box valves :at any desired intervals, and I find it convenient to rotate said shaft 7% by an electric motor 60 which may be automatically controlled by a rotary switch in the casing 81 which switch is in geared engeinent with said shaft 7 .1. That is to say; said shatt 74 may be rotated in one direction by said motor, for a predetermined time and, thereupon, its direction of rotation may be automatically reversed as a consequence of such rotation and the operation repeated with consequent operation of said box valves 59 at the desired intervals.

In order to charge said boxes 53 with liquid automatically at predetermined times; I provide a circular series of relatively stationary tanks 8'52 disposed beneath said series of boxes and trays; each such tank being operatively connected,by a check valve 83, with an air reservoir having means arranged to supply it with, compressed air, including the air supply conduit which has respective branches 86 leading to said air reservoirs 84k and controlled by valves 87. I find it convenient to provide said valves 7 with ball end operating levers 88 extending between the flanges 89 and 90 on said frame (31, by which they are operated; so that said valves 59 are closed when said valves 86 are opened, and vice versa. Each of said air reservoirs 84 is provided with an upwardly extending discharge pipe 91 arranged to overhang, and deliver liquid into the boxes 53 as the latter are successively presented beneath the same by rotary movement of said tray frame; which movement may be conveniently effected at any predetermined times by intermittent step by step rotation of said hub tube 7. Such rotation is conveniently effected by providing said tube with the worm gear 92, at the lower end thereof, in engage ment with the worm 93, on the shaft 9-:t, which may be actuated by theelectricmotor 95 under control of an automatically operative rotary switch in the casing 90; which switch is in geared connection with said shaft 94 as above contemplated with reference to the other worm shaft 741-.

I find it convenient to operate saidapparatus in a cycle, as follows: Assuming that thirty seconds is requirel to charge said boxes 58 with liquid and thirty seconds to empty them, each box may be filled and emptied at intervals of, say, one minute, and the viscose products 98 contained in the trays be time subjected to the surging action of any desired liquid, any resired number of times. For instance, each box may be thus filled and emptied live times during the intervals when the carriage and tray frame are stationary; the intermittent rotation thereof being eil'ected at intervals of live minutes. As there are twelve boxes 53 in the series shown; the apparatus de scribed provides for twelve separate chemical treatments of the viscose material 98 in the trays in the boxes 53. However, the treatments of such material with a y given iiquid may be prolonged by using similar liquids in successive positions of the boxes; for instance, a typical treatment of viscose to effect its precipitation and conversion to cellulose hydrate may be effected by sul jecting it to the action of dilute sulphuric acid in the first of the twelve successive positions of said carriage. Then subjecting it to the action of boiling sodium phosphate in the second to the eighth position of said carriage inclusive, and preferably with the fresh solution of phosphate entering the box in the eighth position and being transferred thence successively to the seventh, sixth, fifth, fourth, third, and second posiions. That is to say, from box to box then occupying those positions, so that the spent phosphate meets the fresh viscose material in the box occupying the second position, from which the spent phosphate may be discharged to the sewer. In the ninth of the twelve positions in the circular series said viscose material may be subjected to the action of water, to eliminate the phosphate solution therefrom. In the tenth position, said material may be subjected to the action of an aqueous solution of sodium hypochlorite and in the eleventh position, it may be subjected to the action of dilute peroxide of hydrogen. As each box 53 reaches the twelfth position in the rotation of said carriage around said axial standard l; the tray 5% thus presented may be removed, emptied and refilled or replaced with another similar tray containing the viscose material to be treated.

Although the treatments above conteme position inclusive, being with liquid which i is boiling, there would be considerabie steam loss and consequent objectionable vapor in the building, if said boxes were left uncovered. Therefore, I provide said boxes with removable covers 99 which conline the heated vapors and cause them to be con densed during the subsequent cold treatments.

Moreover, as it is desirable to .lilter each of the chemical solutions aforesaid, after its first use, before using it again; each of said tanks 82 may be provided with a tiller diaphragm 100 which receives the liquid from the superimposed box valve and permits it to subside into the tank. Said filter diaphragms are removable, for (-(mvenient cleaning or replacement.

Said discharge pipes 91 are conveniently formed of flexible tubing which is movable so that the liquid may be discharged from the air reservoir 84 with which said pipe 9.1. is connected, either into the box directly over the same or into the preceding box in the series if the liquid is to be transferred from box to box, in the reverse direction to that in which the boxes are progressed, above contemplated.

However, I do not desire to limit myself to the precise details of construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it obvious'that various modifications may be made therein, without departing from the essential features of my invention, as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In viscose treating apparatus, the combination with means arranged to support a circular series of trays for rotation in coaxial relation with said series; of a circular series of tanks disposed beneath said series ill) of trays; means arranged to discharge liquid from said tanks into said t'ays; means arranged to intermittently d'scharge the liquid from said trays into said tanks; and means arranged to effect such movements of the liquid, in sequence with int rniittent rotary movements of the series of trays.

2. In viscose treating apparatus, the combination with means arranged to support a circular series of radially disposed trays for rotation in coaxial relation with said series; of a circular series of relatively stationary tanks disposed beneath said series of trays; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tank: into the respective superimposed trays; means arranged to intermittently discharge the liquid from said trays ack into said tanks including valves at the bottom of said trays, and means arranged to operate said valves in sequence with rotary movements of the series of trays.

3. In viscose treating apparatus, the com bination with means arrnged to support a circular series of trays for rotation in coaxial relation with said series; oi a circular series of relatively stationary tanks disposer beneath said series of trays; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tanks into the respective superimposed trays, including air reservoirs and means arranged to supply the same with compressed air and cheer: valves between sait tanks and reservoirs; means arranged to intermittently discharge the liquil trom said trays back into said tanks including valves atthe bottom oi said trays, and means arranged to operate said valves in definite relation to the rotary movement of the series of trays.

4. In viscose treating apparatus, the combination with means, including an axial standard, and rotary carriage, arranged to si'ipport a circular series of radially disposed trays for rotation in coaxial relation with said series; of a circular series of relatively stationary tanks disposed beneath said series of trays; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tanks into the respective superimposed trays, including air reservoirs and means arranged to supoly the same with compressed air and check valves between said tanks and reservoirs; means arranged to intermittently discharge the liquid from said trays back into said tanks including valves the bottom of said trays, and means arranged to operate said valves in sequence with the rotary movementof the series of trays, including a. spider frame mounter to reciprocat axially on said standard.

In viscose treating apparatus, the combination with n'ieans, including an axial standard, and rotary carriage, arranged to support a circular series of radially disposed trays for rotation in coaxial relation with said series; of a circular series of relatively stationary tanks disposed beneath said series of t 'ays; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tanks into the -pective superimposed trays, including air reservoirs and means arranged to supply the same with compressed air and check valves between said tanks and reservoirs; means arranged to intermi'tently discharge the liquid from said trays back into said tanks including valves at the bottom of said trays, and means arranged to operate said valves sequence with the rotary movement of the series of trays, including a spider 'l'rame mounted to reciprocate axially on said standard; and means arranged to reciprocate said spider frame, including a screw in coaxial relation with said standard.

6. In viscose treating apparatus, the combination with means, including an axial standard, and rotary carriage, arranged to support a circular series of radially disposed t'ays for rotation in coaxial relation with said series; of a circular series of relatively stationary tanks disposed beneath said series of trays; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tanks into the respective superimposed trays, including air reservoirs and means arranged to supply the same with compressed air and check valves between said tanks and reservoirs; means arran ed to intermittently discharge the l quid om said trays back into said tanks i icluding valves at the bottom of said trays, and means arranged to operate said valves in sequence with the rotary movement of the series of trays, including a spider frame mounted to reciprocate axially on said standard; and means arranged to reciprocate said spider frame, including a screw in coaxial relation with said standard; and means arranged to intermittently turn said carriage, inchiding a worm gear in coaxial relation wi h said standard and a worm engaging said worm gear.

7. in viscose treating apparatus, the combination with means, including an axial Si iltlth'il, and rotary carriage, arranged to support a circular series oi radially disposed trays tor rotation in coaxial relation with said series; of a circular oi relatively stationary tanks disposed, beneath said series of trys; means arranged to discharge liquid from the respective tanks into the re spective superimposed trays, including air res-:ervoirs and means arranged to supply the same with compressed air and check valves between said tanks and reservoirs; means arranged to intermittently discharge the liquid from said trays back into said tanks including v: lves at the bottomot' said trays, and means arranged to operate said valves in sequence with the rotary movement of the series of trays, including a spider frame mounted to reciprocate axially on said stamiard; and means arranged to intermittently turn said carriage and reciprocate said. spider :l'rame, including worm gears respectively rigidly connected with said carri go and spider frame, and worms engaging; said worm gears; and motor means arranged to imlependently operate said worms in coopcrat i ve relation.

8. 1n viscose treating apparatus, the coinbination with a circular series of boxes each having a valve at the bottom thereof; out means arranged to operate said valves, incluifling a spider :tranie mounted to reciprocate axially with respect to said series and engaged with said valves at its perimeter; and means arranged to axially reciprocate said spider frame; whereby all oi said valves are opened when said frame is shifted in one direction, and closed when said trzuuo l5 shil'l'ed in the opposite direction.

t). In viscose treating apparatus, the C0111- bination with an axial standard: of a rotary carriage including a hub tube titled in coaxial relation with said standard; carriage ruj )ports comprising annular members respectively at the top and intermediate of the height of said tube; tension rods, pendent from said upper support; strut rods pendent from said lower support; and an annular tray frame, supported by said tension and strut rods, with its inner edge at a lower level than its outer edge, arranged to receive and support a circular series of trays, in concentric relation with said standard.

10. In viscose treating apparatus, the combination with an axial standard; of a rotary carriage including a hub tube fitted in coaxial relation with said standard; carriage supports comprising annular members respectively at the top and interu'iediate ot' the height of said tube; tension rods, pendent from said upper SllPPOlb strut rods pendent from said lower support; and an annular tray :lraine, supported by said tension and strutrods, with its inner edge at a lower level than its outer edge, arranged to receive and support a circular series of trays; and means arranged to turn said carriage, intermittently, to the extent of one tray in said series at each step.

ii. In viscose treating apparatus, the com hination with an axial standard; of a rotary carriage includingra hub tube litted in coaxial relation with said standard; carriage supports comprisii'igr annular members respectively at the top and intermediate of the height of said tube; tension rods, pendent from said upper support; strut rods pend ent from said lower support; and an annular tray frame, supported by said tension and strut rods, with its inner edge at a lower level than its outer edge, arranged to receive and support a circular series of trays; means arranged to turn said carriage, intermittently, to the extent of one tray in said series at each step, including a gear in coaxial relation with said standard; an electric motor operatively connected with said gear; a controlling switch for said electric motor; and

means operatively connecting said motor with said switch; whereby said motor operates said switch.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto signed my name at Burlington, New Jersey, this 19th day of April, 1926.

SAMUEL A. NEIDICH. 

